Emotional goodbye speech by senator-elect

At times pausing as her voice quavered, state Sen.-elect Linda Dorcena Forry gave her farewell speech in the House on Wednesday – with a caveat.

The Enterprise, Brockton, MA

Writer

Posted Jun. 13, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jun 13, 2013 at 1:08 PM

Posted Jun. 13, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jun 13, 2013 at 1:08 PM

» Social News

At times pausing as her voice quavered, state Sen.-elect Linda Dorcena Forry gave her farewell speech in the House on Wednesday – with a caveat.

“Today is not a farewell because I’m just moving down the hall, on the fifth floor. So I expect to see all of you there, and we’ll continue to work together,” the Dorchester Democrat said. “It is a great day, but it is also a sad day.”

Forry, a former state representative whose district includes two precincts in Milton, beat her House colleague Rep. Nick Collins, D-South Boston, with whom she shares office space, and South Boston entrepreneur Maureen Dahill in a closely fought Democratic primary in the special election to fill the seat last held by Sen. Jack Hart, who stepped down to practice law full-time.

She then defeated Joseph Ureneck, a Dorchester Republican.

“I want to thank Speaker DeLeo ... for giving me the opportunity to be a member of your leadership team,” Forry said. “I stand here before you as someone who was born and raised in Boston, first generation. I stand here because of their work and their dedication and their love,” said Forry, the daughter of Haitian immigrants.

She entered the House in 2005 after winning a special election for the seat last held by former House Speaker Tom Finneran. At the time, she had one child, and in the years since her family has grown.

“I’ve had three additional children, and you all have been part of that,” Forry said.